Android Update Lets Pixel Users Control Always-On Display Like Never Before
Pixel 10 series and future models may gain smarter always-on display controls, helping users save battery while keeping glanceable notifications.
image for illustrative purpose
Google is in the process of experimenting with a new feature for its Pixel line of smartphones that could potentially provide users with greater control over their always-on display (AOD) while also aiding in conserving battery life. This update, which was uncovered in a recent Android Canary build, introduces a setting that will automatically switch off the screen when user activity is not detected.
At the moment, Pixel users are able to either turn the AOD on or off only during the day. In contrast to some Android devices that offer scheduling or adaptive AOD behavior, Pixel phones have continuous display which leads to battery drainage if left idle. The new option, called “Turn off display on inactivity,” aims to overcome this drawback. As per the code snippets in the build, the feature will “power down the display when no user activity is detected to save power.”
The specific conditions that would qualify for inactivity are not known for sure yet, but Samsung phones offer one way to think about it. Samsung’s “auto” AOD turns the display off when the device is lying face down, in a dark room, or when sleep behavior is inferred. Currently, Pixel phones are equipped with proximity sensors that turn off the AOD in case of face down placement or when in a pocket, but they do not detect when a user is idle for a long time. The new feature may bridge that gap and automatically extinguish the light or dim the screen after a long time of inactivity.
This discovery was made in tandem with a revamped flashlight brightness slider in the Android Canary release. However, the AOD enhancement is still undergoing tests and not available on existing Pixel devices yet. It is anticipated that the feature will be found under Settings > Display > Always-on display when it is eventually rolled out.This update comes after Google announced AOD wallpaper support for the Pixel 10 series, indicating a transition to a more customizable and user-friendly experience. Observers are optimistic that the feature will eventually reach older devices alongside the latest Pixel models.
Technology enthusiasts and Pixel users are eagerly awaiting this alteration since it provides the best of both worlds: the convenience of seeing notifications at a glance along with a reduction in battery consumption.
